Hacking RetroGameFan Updates/Releases

[Space_Goddess_Samus_Aran]

does this work on an R4i 3DS (r4ids.cn)?

 

[MushGuy]

does this work on an R4i 3DS (r4ids.cn)?

No, it uses Wood.
https://sanrax.github.io/flashcart-guides/cart-guides/r4ids_cn/

 

[Surge4315]

The guide for R4i-SDHC carts contains info that data from DSONEi SDHC folder (including r4.dat wchich isn't even there) should be used for primary kernel. On the other hand the guide for dual boot correctly states that data from R4i-SDHC folder should be used. I have no idea if it's still possible to edit the post but maybe this will help someone at some point.

 

[raxadian]

R4i

For DSi cards use

Homebrew  Thread '[DS(i) & 3DS] AKMenu-Next - Wood frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader'

Jan 18, 2025

AKMenu-Next
Frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader based on akmenu4 (GUI from WoodRPG 1.25)

AKMenu-Next is a frontend and user interface for nds-bootstrap and Pico-Loader, bringing an upgraded & modernised version of the classic Wood UI experience to nearly any Nintendo DS flashcart, as well as native support for the DSi and 3DS.

​

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Features:

• Lightweight Wood User Interface (based on lifehackerhansol's akmenu4 port from WoodRPG 1.25).​
• All the features you'd expect from Wood such as save slots, themes...​

• Coderkei
• Replies: 430
• Forum: Nintendo DS

• 
• 

As that uses nds-bootstrap.

If you need a DS card, like to run old homebrew and old fan games made for the DS, get a R4 clone and use Wood and that way you can run stuff that doesn't run in nds-bootstrap. Sure you will be limited to 2 GB micro sd cards, but is the only way to run those old fan games for DS.

 

[Surge4315]

For DSi cards use

nah man, ysmenu is enough for me and i got used to it, never felt the need to use nds bootstrap + r4 clones aren't limited to 2gb anymore

 

[raxadian]

r4 clones aren't limited to 2gb anymore

Those don't run Wood and are DSi cards not DS cards. Well there is an old DSi card that runs Wood but good luck getting it.

 

[receptions]

This has been a great help to me! Love that this community has kept this nonsense up to date. I just have a couple of notes for nostalgia freaks like me with a r4sdhc:

If you're attached to the OG r4sdhc layout (because you've been using it for damn near 20 yrs) or just don't want YSMenu to auto-launch, just rename DEFAULT.NDS. I renamed mine to YSMenu.nds. You can use the 1.34 kernel folder and just replace all files with the update provided here IF you get rid of R4_Pandora.nds and all associated files in the _system_ folder. I came from an extremely early version of the r4sdhc firmware (rip I would've saved it if my sd card didnt get corrupted by my faulty adapter) so I wasn't aware until recently that 1.34 ripped off the creator of YSMenu. The only benefit of keeping the 1.34 install and replacing with new files is to keep Moonshell and the middle launch button in the r4 menu if you're new to this like me and haven't explored fully customizing these things beyond a visual level yet. Ramble over.

Additionally, the cheats bundled with this only work for launching games from YSMenu, so if you still want to launch games from the r4 kernel you will need to generate another file that's readable

 

[VicViper-V]

Is it possible to add information about new translations to existing firmware files myself so that everything works?
There are not so many translations, but they are coming out, and when I try to play them I get:
[Rom loading failed] load rom error =-4
There are tools that can provide all the necessary information, game ID and CRC: eNDryptS Advanced, r4cce.
RetroGameFan himself also posted a utility for editing *.dat files: TTdT.
But how to write all the received information correctly so that everything works, I don't understand, it seems I'm too stupid for this

 

[SuffahBish]

Is it possible to add information about new translations to existing firmware files myself so that everything works?
There are not so many translations, but they are coming out, and when I try to play them I get:
[Rom loading failed] load rom error =-4
There are tools that can provide all the necessary information, game ID and CRC: eNDryptS Advanced, r4cce.
RetroGameFan himself also posted a utility for editing *.dat files: TTdT.
But how to write all the received information correctly so that everything works, I don't understand, it seems I'm too stupid for this

If you haven't already you could try pico-loader. It's actually made for flashcarts and works pretty good already IMO. You can use it with it's own launcher Pico-Launcher. Or you can use it with AKMenu-Next or TM++. Just change the loader in the settings.

 

[dharcshyne]

Hello. Does this work for the R4 Gold Pro SDHC? If so, which one would I be downloading? First time doing this.